All posts filed under: Writing

Let Me Sing This Dance With You

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This past Sunday I had the opportunity to sing a few jazz standards accompanied by Murray Wall on double bass (contrabass); he’s a wonderful musician. It was so much fun. No microphone, no piano, no drum, and a no distractions.  We had a small audience who also seemed to be sending out the “no judgments” vibe which was very sweet. It was a showcase-style performance with four other women, and we had a ball singing in this simple rotating format. It was conceptualized by one of the performers, and dubbed “Beauties and the Bass” by another.  A lovely group dynamic. After the performance, I spent a few moments talking to another friend. She was part of the audience, but had also assisted a couple of the singers with their choreography (suggesting hand gestures, slight movements to try while singing, and other things like that.) She is a very graceful person, and we spoke about her possibly dancing to one of my original songs sometime in the near future.  As we were talking I was immediately reminded of the following song that I wrote …

Straight to You

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Wherever you are…is home. Straight to You [Written for Leonid Volskiy on his piece “Clearing the Cobwebs Away”] ©2012 Laurie Early This train, rocking me gently, glides on metal rails that will not take me to you and so I ride until I reach the ocean, and a crossing dangerous and blue This train, only goes so far and now that I’m aboard for love I’ll never go back I’ll stay on course for I must hold you though the sea will end this track Now, I’m flying, I’m floating, I’m rising, I’m soaring, my heart’s above the water headed home, love, straight to you I’m flying, I’m floating, I’m rising, I’m soaring, I’m heading home now, straight to you. I know you will be waiting when my loyal heart has crossed this ocean so vast we’ll lie in sunlit fields of tall grass and I’ll hold your face at last Yes, I’m flying, I’m floating, I’m rising, I’m soaring, my heart’s above the water headed home, love, straight to you. I’m flying, I’m floating, I’m …

Crossed Paths

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Crossed Paths (inspired by Caminhos Cruzados ©Tom Jobim) English lyrics ©2012 Laurie Early   Vocals in Portuguese – Maria Creuza (on YouTube) When a heart that’s tired of suffering meets a heart that’s new perhaps that is the moment that will end their suffering too. No time for thinking at all now that love, so gentle, has finally arrived. When a heart is longing for someone who doesn’t care, someone who’s never dreaming of your touch Open up, do not fear new arms, kiss new lips with yours, hold him close, press your cheek against his. I was foolish when I thought I knew my little heart And, when it comes to love I’m always fearful at the start. But, together we can care for this love we share, a sweet love just for us.    

Poems for Billy Strayhorn (II)

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I am in London this week!  So, of course, I am prompted to post a second poem from my series inspired by specific compositions of Billy Strayhorn, Chelsea Bridge, a London landmark. As you read, you may wish to listen to one of the sax solos that inspired me while I was writing–Ben Webster’s sensitive version of “Chelsea Bridge” on YouTube*. Chelsea Bridge ©2009 Laurie Early There’s a footpath under the Chelsea Bridge Darling, meet me there tonight I’ll be there waiting in the moonlight. We’ll go walking down by the River Thames while the boats go by you can steal a kiss memories to cling to for a lifetime. Do you remember that storm, the day we met last April, when we both ran for shelter from the rain? Our romance made London a dreamland where we’ll never be lonely again. As the river sparkles like stars so high up above I will take your hand, I will give my heart “I love you that’s forever,” this I’ll promise. This I’ll promise under the …

This Tear

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This Tear ©2013 Laurie Early Yes, it is painful to want something you can’t have but worse not to hunger at all. I can’t live without passion, or my love for you, so if that means tears, let them fall….. This tear, this tear, this tear forming in my eye this tear, this single tear, the first of many I will cry. I tried to hold it back, I tried to keep it in, I tried to keep this tear inside, but oh no, this tear, won’t obey me, and it won’t hide. This tear, this tear, this tear rolling down my cheek this tear, this quiet tear, says all the words that I can’t speak. I want to run away from love I can’t explain, but there is no escape when tears don’t dull the pain, and I fear, after this tear, I’ll never be the same. This tear, this tear, this tear falling into space this tear has left me now, as others rush to take its place. I can’t control my heart, my …

In Remembrance

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30 March 2015: Ulysses L. Slaughter, Jr. would have been celebrating 59 years on earth today, if he had not left “All Too Soon”. He passed from this earthly plane in 2008, but I still think of him all the time, especially on days like this, his birthday, for if he was still here, all his friends would probably be loudly singing at his home, eating a ton of soul food, and enjoying a tremendous celebration of his life. One of his favorite songs to sing was, “Here’s to Life”. He told me the first time he heard it was at a friend’s home. They had the Shirley Horn album, and they put it on for him to listen to. He said he lay down on their carpet, and closed his eyes, and was instantly transported by the song. Now, whenever I hear anyone singing “Here’s to Life” I hear Ulysses’ voice, the two are inseparable to me.  I visualize him blissfully reposing on that livingroom carpet with “Here’s to Life” in his ears, mind, and heart.  (Chokes me up every …

How Could I Forget Your Eyes?

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How Could I Forget Your Eyes ©2012 Laurie Early (Music by Alfonso Deidda) How could I forget your eyes? Eyes that changed my life when they met with mine. I took just one look at your face, and this world became a brand new place, and I have never felt a love like this one surround me before, (I feel so lucky, baby.) How could I forget your eyes? Eyes revealing secrets I have never known. You taught me to balance, and then, I learned that I could trust my heart again, so tell me, how could I forget your eyes? And, if I just stop for a second, and breathe a moment, I dream what a dream our little life could be. I remember glances you gave me. Is there a chance you’ll save me from living a life without you near? (Baby, that’s my fear.) So tell me, how could I forget those sweet eyes? What would life be like without your loving gaze? I can’t see a day without you; from our first kiss …

Poems for Billy Strayhorn (I)

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This poem is the first I am posting here from my series of poems inspired by specific compositions by Billy Strayhorn. As you read my words, I encourage you to listen to the Alessandro Vaccari Quartet* performing a lovely version of Strayhorn’s Isfahan that I discovered recently on YouTube. My Isfahan ©2009 Laurie Early Poets speak your name and sigh, ink in quill, for calligraphic lace, my love, cannot hold you still. A mystical poem can’t ever enclose, the fragrance of such a rose, your gardens harbor those, my Isfahan. Jasmine in the wind ‘neath saffron-colored skies. Tea served near the square, with Persian lullabies. Your tranquil flowing streams and mosaics gleam… turquoise, gold, and green, my Isfahan. You are half the world, my Isfahan.   Another poem in this series is:  (II) Chelsea Bridge *Alessandro Vaccari Quartet 17 giugno 2011 – PER LA RASSEGNA “EFFETTO JAZZ” 2011 Alessandro Vaccari – ten sax Emiliano Pintori – keyboards Roberto Beneventi – double bass Vittorio Sicbaldi – drums Località: Barchessoni di San Martino Spino, Mirandola, Modena, ITALY

Consider the Moon

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Consider the Moon ©2008 Laurie Early Consider the moon reflecting the sun, asking nothing for herself but to share light where there was none. Consider the moon she’s scarred many ways, but stays true to herself as she moves along through each phase. And you know she has a dark side she keeps to herself, full of sadness, fear and anger, and a ton of self-doubt. But if you care to visit there she’ll surely let you see, so that you won’t make the same mistakes as she. Consider the moon, she’s so far away, illuminating our nighttime, but getting closer, closer, closer to the sun each day. She’s leaving us, she’s leaving us, she’s gonna leave us all in her dust Men have walked all over her and left their trash behind. consider the moon.   [Photo of the moon by Richard Williams © 2013]